Barrel closure



April 2, 1946. H. MERKER ET AL 2,397,500

BARREL CLOSURE Filed July 25, 1942 2 INVENTORS.

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3 BY I xe ww k i ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 2, 1946 kee; Wisa, assignors to Pressed :SteeL Tank C011}: par-1y,ltI-il'waukee,v Wis, a corporation of Wis- Application .r uly 2'5, 1942; SerialzNo. 452,281. j

seal-as, 285 f This invention relates to improvements-in containers, especially designed and adapted for-fuse with: beer or* other carbonated beverages; and is in" the nature of an improvement-om the invention described and claimed in United States Letters Patent 2293,9413 issued to us on August 25, 1 942, for Container. 7 I v y In containers of this character, the container or barrel has a single opening through which it is pitched, cleaned, filled, and tapped. fitting is provided which makes it practical to; quickly closethe barrel immediately after it i's-fill'ed with beer (and'the nozzle of theracking arm, or' the racking machine, removed) soast'o avoid-foaming and prevent loss of "beer. Thereafter the fitting is closed and sea'led sqasto providea closed package which cannot accidenta'ilybec'ome opened and yet maybe readily tapped atthepointof use inthe ordinary manner. Furthermore; when the barrel is to be refilled; the fitting maybereadily removed;

The object of the present invention is to sim plifythe' construction of a: device of this kind which is so constituted as to-facilitate-itsasssem bly and disassembly, and at the same time-to inl surea: reliable; as-well-as a hermetic, seal when the parts are assembled;

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character and having these advantages and wherein the various elements that go to make up the fitting are all united so that they may not separate one from the other and are not likely to be dropped or lost.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in transverse, vertical cross section taken on line l--l of Figure 2 and illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in top plan further illustrating the construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in transverse vertical section taken on line 3--3 of Figure 4 and showing a modified form of the invention; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in top plan further illustrating the form of the invention shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that in bothembodimentsot the inventionla beerbarrel is provi'ded; but only a; fragment of the barrel, designatedas I, is illustrated. While: the ba'rrel may be constructed 1 inany suitable way: it is preferably made up in the manner showm and described in our patent above referred to. The barrel is provided: withat single opening 7 su'flicientlyla-rge to perrhit pitching cleaning, filling, a'nd ta'ppin'g therethro'u'gli, V

In both embodiment's oftheinventiomtheopenmg 2 15:: equipped with. especialfitting structure, designated as" a-whole at F in Figures I and 2, andat F" in Figurese and a v w The fittings Fand E' are similar in con truetion' and eaclr includes a Barret fitting 32 Each barrel fitting-1 3 comprises a; short;- cylindrical, metal structure rabbe'tedas:at lt around it'sl'ower end to interfit with v the marginof the opening: 2. Ahwe1d= '5 permanently unitesi eachi barrel; fitting 3: tc its barrel: Head; and: effects a hermeticseal between these parts t Referring nowxta figures. Land 2, it will b seen that the fitting F alsodncludes a bungbusning 6- constituted of= rubber; rubbericompositibn,

or-similar elastie materia fnhe bungr bushing 6 is' externally tapered so; a's to" correspond: in its formation! to: the internal tapeaoff the -barrer fitting-l3; I" =i H A tap fitting, designated generally at I0, is provided and includes a tubular body portion II, having the usual out-turned flange I2, designed to coact with a standard tap (not shown). A frusto-conical flange I3 is integral with and depends from the tubular body portion II and is imbedded in the bung bushing 6, the bung bushing 6 being vulcanized thereto. In this form of the invention the tubular body portion I I of the tap fitting is surrounded by a cup-like member I 4, which may be integral with the body portion of the tap fitting. The bore or opening through the tubular body portion of the tap fitting is closed by means of the usual cork or plug l5.

With this construction, after the barrel is filled with beer, the bung bushing and tap fitting assembly may be quickly introduced into the bore of the barrel fitting to prevent foaming or loss of beer. After it is initially inserted, it then may be driven home so as to provide not only a hermetic seal, but a secure interconnection with the bung bushing B and barrel fitting 3. When it is driven home, the bung bushing 6 is tightly compressed and the adhesion between it and the bar. rel fitting supplies a force to hold the parts assembled.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, an elastic bungbushing, designated generally at 20, is provided as before. The tap fitting, designated at 2|, has the tubular body portion 22 fitting being adapted to receive a device for tapequipped at its upper end with an outturned flange'23 designed to interfit or coact with the standard tap. A somewhat shorter depending frusto-con'ical flange 24 is provided and it is embedded in and vulcanized to the bung bushing as before. However, in this formation of the invention, the cup-like member'is omitted. Ob yiously, the structure shown in Figures 3 and 4' constructions in which the inventionmay be ad vantageously embodied, it is tobe understood that V the'constructions shown have been selected mer'e' 1y for the purpose of illustration or example and that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of the, parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. 1

We claim: 1. In a closure for an opening in a barrel, a fitting joined to the barrel about the opening therethrough, said fittinghaving an opening ping the contents of the barrel.

3. In a closure for an opening in a barrel, a fitting attached to the barrel about the opening therethrough, said barrel fitting having an opening therethrough, a bushing seating in sealing position in the opening in said barrel fitting, said bushing being formed of resilient material, and a fitting having a tubular portion and a frustoconical flange extending therefrom and embedded in said bushing and forming a unitary subassembly' therewith for quick insertion into the opening through said barrel fitting, said tubular fitting being adapted to receive a device for tapping the contents of the barrel.

4. In a closure for an opening in the barrel, a fitting attached to the barrel about the openin therethrough, said barrel fitting having an inwardly tapered opening therethrough, a bushing tapered externally to conform with the taper of said barrel fitting an opening for seating therein, said bushing being formed of resilient material,

' and a tubular tap fitting having a flange extend- 'therethrough, a bushing seating in the opening in said barrel fitting, said bushing being formed of resilient material, and a'tubular fitting having the lower portion thereof embedded insaid bushing and forming aunitary subassembly therewith ,for quick insertion into and sealing seating in the opening through said barrel fitting, said tubular fitting being adapted to receive a device for tap ping the contents of the barrel.

,2. In a closure for an opening in a barrel, a fitting joined to'the barrelabout the opening therethrough, said barrel fitting having an open and a tubular fitting having its lower portion embedded in said bushing and ,forming a unitary subassembly therewith for quick insertion into the opening through said barrel fitting, said tubular ing therefrom and embedded in and vulcanized to said bushing and forming: a unitary subassembly therewith'for quick insertion into and sealing positioning in the opening through said barrel fitting. i V

5. In a closure for an opening in the barrel, a fitting attached to the barrel about the opening therethrough, said barrel fitting having an inwardly tapered opening therethrough, a bushing tapered to conform with the taper of said barrel fitting opening for seating therein, said bushing being formed of resilient material, and a second fitting joined to said bushing and forming a unitary subassembly therewith for quick insertion into sealing engagement in the opening through said barrel fitting, said second fitting having a tubular body and a flange about the upper end of the body and defining a cup-shaped space therewith and extending over the'portion of said bushing unenclosed by the upper end of said barrel 

